1316 The Vegetable Industry in New York State 



The first very necessary thing is heat. We find the seeds them- 

 selves are very sensitive to heat, and by experimenting, the same 

 seed will range from 40 to 99 per cent, in germination according 

 to the amount of heat. We find the nearer 75 degrees the tem- 

 perature is kept the better. 



SOWING THE SEED 



The manner of sowing the seed is very important. The old- 

 time way of sowing broadcast in flats or beds should be aban- 

 doned. There are always some that will be crowded by this method 

 and thus grow slender and become practically worthless. We 

 would recommend always sowing all seeds in rows. This will 

 give all the same chance if covered in the same depth and all re- 

 ceive the same amount of sun — which plants need very much. 



Each grower must determine when to sow his seeds ; this de- 

 pends upon the time they usually will be liable to go into open 

 ground. I allow about six weeks for tomatoes, cabbage and 

 cauliflower, and twelve weeks for celery. 



Flowering plants may be grown to good advantage with the 

 vegetables as the greenhouse can be used after other plants are 

 out in hotbeds. The following flowers are most called for : Asters, 

 Verbenas, Petunias, Zinnias, Salvias and Pansies. Many more 

 plants can be grown per square foot. 



In the selection of flower seeds, buy only the best and those 

 that have been tried out. One does not want to be disappointed 

 at the close of the season by not getting large and handsome 

 flowers. 



The methods of growing plants are practically the same as 

 for vegetables. 



DISEASES 



Diseases that attack plants in the seed bed should be well 

 looked after. Perhaps the one having done the greatest amount 

 of damage is what is known as " damping off." This is a fungous 

 disease that attacks the plants at the surface of the earth, and is 

 caused by an over amount of moisture there. This excess moisture 

 soon decays the shanks of the plants which drop over and in time 

 die. Some recommend transplanting as soon as this condition is 



